"The Suction Cup Symphony"

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"The Suction Cup Symphony" is a song that was composed by Gary Stockdale. This song plays in the episode of the same name.

Overview

"The Suction Cup Symphony" is an orchestral piece cosisting of a piano (the episode only), strings, flutes, a timpani, bass drums, cymbals, bassoons, horns, trumpets, trombones, tubas, a triangle, and a snare drum. In the episode of the same name, the only instruments shown are: two violins, two cellos, a timpani, a piano, a harp, two flutes, tubas, and three trumpets. Also in the episode, additional sound effects are provided by SpongeBob and Patrick, an example being Patrick's screams while SpongeBob gives him an X-ray.

The piece starts off with short and strong notes being attacked. It follows the main theme, composing of a piano, strings, woodwinds, and brass. A short musical phrase plays, which then follows with several other musical phrases. A popular rearrangement of the piece itself plays at mainly F major.

Role in episode

In the episode that this piece plays in, SpongeBob and Patrick start to make sound effects throughout the piece and while practicing before the symphony performance.

Patrick examining his tongue and making strange noises.

Patrick using a workshop hammer as a reflex hammer and SpongeBob timing the reflex.

Pressing two fingers on the sides of Patrick's brain causes Patrick to burp.

All of these sound effects are repeated multiple times before the grand finale: SpongeBob coming out of a timpano (singular of timpani), expanding Patrick with a sphygmomanometer, which expands another timpano, popping it and letting Patrick float around like a balloon, and lastly Patrick opening his mouth to release the air and deflating to end the performance.

Much to Squidward's surprise, the audience ends up loving the performance and gives him a round of applause.

Trivia

In some countries, "The Suction Cup Symphony" is played one semitone higher, thus playing in F♯ instead of F. This is because some episodes are played in PAL speed instead of NTSC speed.